Chapter 108
“Luka…….”
“It’s Red Eye Magic Swordsman Luka!”
With the reappearance of the senior examiner, the scattered people began to gather towards the center one by one.
41 participants survived from Theme 1.
Tap, tap.
Then, someone nudged my right forearm.
“Where have you been? You suddenly disappeared.”
It was Olena with a face full of curiosity.
James and Capu next to her had similar expressions.
Only Zhang Wei was nonchalantly tapping his spear, meeting my eyes.
Everyone seemed to be waiting for my answer.
What, do I have to explain even this?
“……Haha, I was just checking the rewards.”
“Oh? That staff you’re holding!”
As I vaguely brushed it off, Olena’s eyes sparkled.
“I’ve never seen it before, is it a reward you received this time? The reddish color makes it look very expensive.”
“Ah, well, it is.”
I threw away the E-grade staff I used to use.
Now, the staff I use is.
A terrifying staff with a grade of Godslayer.
No, to be precise, it was the essence that had transformed into a staff.
“Wow, then what reward grade did Hoon choose? 100%, or 30%? You didn’t succeed with 1%, did you?”
Just as Olena was smiling brightly and showing interest.
“Everyone, pay attention.”
Luka’s heavy voice filled the space.
A strong and weighty voice that naturally drew attention.
“…….”
The somewhat noisy space fell silent.
We also stopped our conversation and looked at Luka.
As if he liked the sight.
“Good to have silence.”
The corners of his lips slightly lifted.
“Congratulations to everyone for surviving Theme 1. It seems like a lot of you survived this round. Normally, about 40% of you would have died.”
Listening to Luka’s cold voice, I nodded.
‘That’s right.’
Even recalling the information about Theme 2.
Dividing into three teams.
And selecting a maximum of 10 people each.
It was highly likely that the person who created this dungeon predicted that the number of survivors would be around 30.
Perhaps if I hadn’t contained the Toxin Mist, it would have been the same this time.
“You guys are still relatively lucky. You reached Theme 2 much easier than other harsh rounds. Thanks to an unexpected rookie.”
Was it my imagination that Luka’s bloodshot eyes briefly turned towards me?
‘No.’
It’s not an illusion.
The emotion contained in Luka’s eyes.
I could clearly read the pure emotion he was emitting.
‘Curiosity.’
How can I be so sure?
Because I’ve experienced it before.
Not just Luka.
From the Five Stars of Seoul to Thunderstrike (Floa) at 84th place.
Every time I met a Ranker, they looked at me like I was a monkey in a zoo.
Really.
It’s something to see after living so long.
A life of receiving attention from Rankers.
‘A world of difference.’
Well done, Joo Donghoon.
Compared to when you were an E-grade Hunter, you’ve grown so much.
“One.”
Swish!
Then, Luka raised his right arm.
“Only 30 people can move on to Theme 2. Unfortunately, 11 of you will be eliminated here.”
Rumble!
At that moment, the ground began to shake.
A change in terrain.
The first start was around me.
Crack! Crack!
The ground around me began to split in a circle.
“W-What’s going on?”
“Hoon?”
“A line has been drawn next to Hoon? Let’s get out of here!”
The moment Olena and Capu dodged!
Thud, thud, thud!
The ground supporting me soared into the sky.
‘Wow.’
As the gravity of riding an amusement park ride pressed down on my body.
I looked around.
Besides me, three other people were floating in the air.
Two participants and the examiner, Luka.
[The three team leaders who will lead Theme 2 will be selected based on contribution.]
Ah, team leaders.
Another perk given to participants who have cleared the previous theme with high contributions.
‘Now it begins.’
I clenched my fist tightly, staring at the message.
[Team 1 – Skeleton King, Joo Donghoon]
[Team 2 – The Slaughterer, Chris Larsen]
[Team 3 – Illusionist, Volf]
‘Chris Larsen and Volf.’
The names of the 2nd and 3rd highest contributors besides me.
I rolled my eyes, scrutinizing them closely.
First, Chris Larsen.
‘So he’s 2nd place.’
First of all, my first impression was terrible.
Golden hair that reminded me of a medieval prince who seemed obnoxious.
A shirt with a design that a gangster chaebol would wear.
Moreover, even after a month, I don’t know how he manages his hair, but he slicked it all back.
‘From what I hear, he’s a murderer who goes around causing trouble.’
The most frequently heard person around me as soon as I came to Theme 2.
Zhang Wei also reacted intensely to that guy.
‘Besides.’
Even the title is scientific.
The Slaughterer.
I became genuinely curious.
How many people do you have to kill to get such an title?
‘Next, the guy named Volf.’
In fact, I couldn’t properly see Volf’s appearance.
Because he was wearing a robe with a unique pattern that covered his entire body.
[Ding!]
[Team leaders will draft team members one by one in order.]
“Team? You’re picking teams?”
“Those guys up there? What? Is it a team battle this time?”
Someone reacted.
The participants who had not yet obtained information were buzzing below.
“Oh? Wait! So Joo Donghoon is in 1st place?”
Someone else.
[Team 1 – Skeleton King, Joo Donghoon]
Whether they found this message, they were talking about me.
“Who is Joo Donghoon, Skeleton King?”
“It’s a Korean-style name? Kheu, as expected, the hunter powerhouse has many hidden experts!”
“Kya, it was all thanks to Joo Donghoon that the Toxin Mist was contained! That person is a guaranteed Ranker.”
“By the way, if it’s a skeleton, isn’t it a Necromancer? Necromancers are definitely OP!”
Someone gave cool recognition.
Someone else gave envious glances.
Various emotions were complexly intertwined and flowed into me.
“……Hoon is ranked 1st?”
Olena and her group, who seemed to be spacing out, also seemed surprised by the unexpected result.
“Amazing. Hoon was such a strong person. Well, each of the skeletons had a tremendous aura.”
Just as the participants were talking about me.
The next message appeared.
[Up to 10 team members can be selected.]
[Unfortunately, team members who are not selected will be eliminated.]
[Eliminated members will not die and can return under the restriction of keeping secrets.]
“What? Elimination?”
“Immediate elimination?”
“What nonsense! How can this be! How did we survive!”
“It seems we have to entrust our elimination to those three people above. Ha, does that mean we have to prove our worth with our skills if we don’t like it?”
“Unbelievable.”
Those who held the dream of becoming a Ranker.
Those who even sacrificed their lives.
There was no way they would want to give up.
That’s why they were even more desperate.
“P-Pick me!”
“No, me! Pick me instead of that guy, I’ll give you 1 billion if you ever return!”
“Idiot! A Ranker is at stake, what’s just 1 billion? Team leaders! I’ll just say it! I’ll definitely be more helpful to the team than money!”
Each of them looked at the team leaders floating in the sky, starting to flirt.
Of course, the most popular among them was me.
“Skeleton King! I’m a magician! You know? A magician is a must for a party……!”
“Joo Donghoon! If you pick me, I’ll do the dishes and cook, and even give you a massage every night……!”
Noisy.
They were talking so much.
I couldn’t even hear properly.
How desperate the situation was.
“…….”
If I hadn’t been in the top 3.
Would I have been like them?
I don’t know.
“Joo Donghoon.”
Magic Swordsman, Luka looked at me and opened his mouth.
“The choice is yours first. Pick one of the people below.”
“……Yes.”
I didn’t look at those who were desperately shouting.
I didn’t bother looking at Olena, James, and Capu either.
‘There is a connection, but that’s it.’
The dungeon is reality.
To achieve my goal, I plan to choose the most practical and realistic plan.
First of all.
Unlike Theme 1, cooperation seems important in Theme 2.
‘Cooperation’ means that the harmony between each other is more important than individual skills.
In other words, personality is important.
That’s why I set a standard.
‘I’ll skip over those who have committed murder for their own benefit.’
Those kinds of people are like ticking time bombs that can stab their teammates in the back at any time if tempted.
Just filtering out those bombs is half the battle.
“I.”
As my mouth opened, everyone stopped talking.
Gulp!
Each of them swallowed, waiting for my sentence.
I looked down.
Then, I saw one person looking up at me without any expression.
‘That’s right.’
You’re definitely first.
Only you can distinguish who I should skip.
“I will choose Judgement Spear, Zhang Wei.”
* * *
[‘Judgement Spear, Zhang Wei’ has been selected for Team 1.]
Rumble!
The ground around Zhang Wei also split like I had experienced.
At the same time, it soared up and stood next to me.
“As expected, you were in 1st place.”
As soon as he came, that was what he said.
There was no word of thanks for picking him or why he was picked.
As if it was natural to pick him.
Anyway, Zhang Wei is a very unique character.
“Did you know? You seemed to know earlier.”
“I was just speculating. Still, it’s surprising to see the result. Well, if you’re a strong person who can beat me, you have to do that much.”
I gave a bitter smile.
Was that it?
Zhang Wei seemed happy.
It seemed to be because I, who had beaten him, was a stronger person than he thought.
“Anyway, there’s only one reason why I picked you.”
“What is it?”
Zhang Wei perked up his ears.
I smiled and pointed below.
“Please use your ability to divide those people into those who should be judged and those who should not be judged.”
“……Divide?”
“Cooperation is important from Theme 2. Also, there is only one team that can go to Theme 3. That is, only 10 people. I hope that those who will face trials together in the future are at least not villains.”
That’s not all.
Like the Five Stars of Seoul.
The team you meet now may become your ‘allies’ for life.
I can’t have notorious murderers as my ally.
Like Ki Soyul or Jang Dae-woong.
I wanted to have cool allies by my side.
“Heo, you……!”
“…….”
“As expected, you were a good person! A bad person could never have such sound and righteous thoughts.”
Zhang Wei looked at me with a determined expression.
Then, he nodded.
“Just leave it to me. I will examiner with all my heart.”
“…….”
I feel like his thought process is simple.
‘Well.’
As long as the result is good.
Rather, it was fortunate that he was easy to handle.
That’s how the team selection began!
[‘Olena Zelenska’ has been selected for Team 1.]
[‘Francis Fred’ has been selected for Team 2.]
[‘Clara Jumi’ has been selected for Team 3.]
…….
[‘Myoi Hana’ has been selected for Team 1.]
[‘Melissa Stone’ has been selected for Team 2.]
[‘Julia Blanchet’ has been selected for Team 3.]
…….
When I chose first, Chris Larsen and Volf also chose.
Accordingly, the messages all appeared to everyone one by one.
I carefully selected team members, referring to the energy of the Supreme Azure Mind Method and the ability of Judgement Spear.
Before I knew it.
[Total of 10 people.]
[Team selection is complete.]
10 participants were gathered next to me.
At least those who will have to overcome trials together in Theme 2.
“…….”
I met their eyes.
They also looked at me.
A long silence flowed.
[Theme 2 begins.]